And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. (Luke 2:47-50, NKJV).
Our Father in heaven, we thank You for not dealing with us as we deserve. We are grateful for Your understanding and Your forgiveness, without which we would be lost. We offer this thanks in no other name but the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen.
Yesterday we noticed how costly distraction and assumption can be. Today we are going to observe behavior patterns in some of these situations. Scripture makes it plain that it was Joseph and Mary who lost sight of Jesus; not vice versa. “as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;” They not only lost sight of the Boy Jesus, they also lost sight of their real relationship to Him and His true relationship to heaven. As I said yesterday, and repeat again today, “Thank God He did not!”
When they finally found Him, after three days, He was peacefully engaged in deep conversation with the religious leaders, in the temple. And they were both amazed, and from the sound of their question, somewhat annoyed, that He had been left behind. He is being blamed for their lack of attention, : ” ‘ “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” ‘ ” Even though it was He who lingered behind, they should have known that He was not with them. He was their responsibility not the other way around.
Now it is the Boy Jesus who sets the record straight, “And He said to them, ” ‘ “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ‘ “ “There would have been no need for anxiety if you had remembered who is My Father.” “If you had remembered who I am You would have remembered my mission, and you would have known where to find Me.”
The following statement helps us to understand and be more sympathetic with Mary and Joseph, “But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.“ From where we stand, after the fact, everything seems so crystal clear. But at the time these actions were taking place, in their humanity, they did not understand. How often we as parents lose sight of the fact that our children are just lent to us; and that their real Parent is God. I wonder how often because of our lack of understanding we lose sight of their real destiny and do things that endanger their reaching their true and full potential! Worse of all, we may endanger their eternal salvation!
Perhaps going back to the temple we will hear a message that will help us to see them as they really are. Even if we do not understand – keep asking questions. God has the answers.